I was recently sent a meme (see below) by a well-meaning friend, who no doubt felt this was a timely corrective knowing my propensity to entertain what are known as conspiracy theories.

I pondered the meme, recognising that, as is often the case, there is much to commend this piece of “godly wisdom” meant to put certain people, i.e. “conspiracy theorists”, right missing a vital ingredient. I posted the meme on my Facebook page along with the following comment: “I am one of those who really do believe the people in power are secretly trying to destroy lives for their own wicked gains. HOWEVER, I also believe the one who is really in power (to the extent God lets him and people allow him), i.e. the Devil, controls the hidden hand (the people who are calling the shots) who in turn have a hold over those most people think are actually in power, including useful idiots etc., is also intent on getting those who dear Russell Brand terms as awakened wonders distracted by this or that conspiracy theory rather than finding out what God thinks/wants, noting these often turns out to be conspiracy facts. While I disagree with the implication of the final paragraph of the meme, which strikes me as well intended, sanctimonious gobbly goop, exhorting us to focus on being nice Christians and that we do nothing besides remaining nice, and it seems to me rather belittling accusing those who bring up conspiracy theories as indulging in a pastime I agree with much of everything else”.

I should add that the text from Isaiah is one that I have in the past meditated on as, like many, I have tried to come to terms with some or other conspiracy theory and sought to join the dots. I am grateful for one friend for offering this exegesis of this particular text: “I see that verse, not as speaking to awakened wonders or truth seekers but rather those who listen to and believe ‘these people’ who are the real conspiracy theorists. For example apparently C4 have just made a programme calling the grooming gang expose a fake narrative that has been concocted by the far right. We know that the grooming gangs are real and disgusting but C4 now feel it’s in their remit to try to debunk it. The powers that be seem to dread what they call the ‘far right’ (their psychological projection of themselves) and try to crush the people they say are far right. It’s not real, people are waking up to the truth. Isaiah’s challenge is to not be tricked by ‘these people’ (the cabal/DS/illuminati/masons whatever you want to call it). Covid is another example where people just jumped into believing the narrative and feared covid which was a setup. There are many others once you start seeing them. This verse is not speaking to those who take the painful red pill. Some red-pilled peeps now believe in space aliens, but really they are just believing the conspiracy theory fed to them by the establishment, which Isaiah urges us not to do”.

Like so much of what the nobler me seeks to do these days, now that I am in my dotage, and wanting to pass on my “wisdom” to the next generation (not as a pastime but rather as a mission), I am all to conscious of the need to seek truth and find balance and the challenge that entails. Over these 10+ years since my entering the blogosphere as a blogger and social media by weighing in with my thoughts, I have had to come to terms with what to make out of what is typically and pejoratively referred to conspiracy theory and to know what the good book reminds us we need to do, noting there is a time for everything, e.g. knowing when to speak and when not to speak. I have long been writing on such matters e.g. “A Time to Speak (2)” nearly eight years ago (see here) and “A Time to Speak” nearly ten years ago (see here). I have also weighed in with my thoughts on the right way to approach conspiracy theories e.g. my post three years ago “Conspiracy theorists; how I became one and tips to pass on” (see here) and “Is conspiracy theory a virus affecting the church?” (see here).

Much of what I wanted to say has been said, here and in the links, but let me bring things up to date. Some conspiracy theories are bogus of course and our time can be better spent doing what nice Christians should be doing: diligently going about our everyday business, being a good neighbour and spreading the Word and, besides, concerning those conspiracy theories that do turn out to be facts, the question is begged: what can be done anyway in the light of that knowledge? Also, there is lot going on that we don’t know, even if we spend all our time trying to know. While much of this is true, we cannot and must not ignore evil taking place nor allow lies to spread unchallenged if we can do something about it, especially for those of us who live in a so-called democracy where we are invited to express our views and bring those who govern to account.

As those who follow me will be aware – I write about two subjects that I was once told should not be aired in polite society: politics and religion. For good or ill, conspiracy theory/fact has a bearing on both. My recent blogs have included my addressing the current political situation and how our politicians have addressed issues to do with immigration and some of the less savoury aspects e.g. to do with child rape gangs dominated by Asian Muslims. Rather than dismiss this as items to be concerned over as our politicians and mainstream media suggest that we do – we should be joining the dots even at the cost of being labelled as a conspiracy theorist. Not so long ago, we were in a Covid pandemic (some believe a scam or plandemic) and told we need to be jabbed to reduce the spread. Those who questioned the narrative were likewise ostracised or worse. Yet there has been much suffering as a result of a lie being spread, e.g. harm done to people jabbed against Covid.

And neither should religious leaders get away with going along with it all and pushing away good Christian folk who saw through the lies and spoke against the evil they saw happening, especially as the church should be leading the charge as to what is true, right and just and renege on their obligations when failing to do so, for it is those who form the church, of all people, have the answers that people, under the control of the cabal that seeks to enslave them etc., need.

I also began to see that while some conspiracy theories are bogus and some not yet proven, that some are indeed also conspiracy facts. I have little doubt that the story spun behind the JFK assassination and 9/11 was false and, moreover, something more sinister behind both events. More recently, I am coming round to the view that the 2020 US Presidential election was a fraud, there is more to the wars in Israel and Ukraine than we have been led to believe and man never landed on the moon (although I still believe earth is a sphere).

Like many labelled “conspiracy theorist”, my own journey has been one of waking up slowly and having to endure hostility for not going with the flow, but as I have also in the past argued: truth should be our mantra, irrespective how unpopular we become for speaking it, whist acknowledging the mistakes we make when we try to do so, especially if we can’t back up opinions with hard facts or become unduly obnoxious when trying to push our point and forgetting the “time to and time not to” counsel of the preacher in Ecclesiastes.

Sometimes that experience has been painful, like the many times when I have seen fellow Christians endure the sort of patronising or dismissal of the above meme writer and leave their church out of disgust. Often what is needed is a recognition that we all see things differently and the need for mutual respect along the lines of “In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity“. Maybe all of my life I have gone against the crowd in what I believed but up to ten years ago, say, and like most, I more or less went along with what I was told by government, media and “my betters”.

As I began to question what I was told, I often found myself in the uncomfortable position of not knowing who/what to believe and as I tried to connect the dots and explore all sorts of rabbit holes I began to transition to the view that there is an alliance of bad actors intent on doing bad, a notion that is dismissed by many in power and those who follow them as being conspiracy theory. I am grateful to those who endured scorn and paid the price, not necessarily sharing my own Christian beliefs, but have done their research and, helped to wake me up, e.g. read the article I wrote three years ago: “The Fall of the Cabal” by Dutch journalist, Janet Ossebaard (see here).

As for me, I will take a leaf out of the book of the Children of Issachar, who sought to understand the times with the view of knowing how to respond. We live in a world full of deceit, including among those we expect better of (in my case Christian leaders). Of course, we should be about loving God and our neighbour but the latter necessitates us being beholden to the truth, acting accordingly, irrespective of what we are told is or isn’t true or when, as too often happens, we are told/warned not to dispute what we are told, not to ask difficult questions or not to challenge falsehood when we see it.